Tag Archives: self esteem

Aug27

How To Feel More Confident In Your Skin

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How To Feel More Confident In Your Skin

More often than not, most of us will feel insecure. It may not be intense insecurity, and it may not severely impact our daily lives, but we can feel it all the same. It might be not feeling that confident in our jobs or worrying about how we look when we’re out with friends. As much as it can be frustrating, it’s quite common. But that doesn’t mean that you have to accept it as normal and live that way forever. In fact, you can look to do something about it as soon as possible!

It’s easy to think that some people are confident and others aren’t, but that’s not strictly true. Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something that’s built. If you’d love to be able to feel more confident in your skin and say goodbye to your insecurities, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the best ways for you to feel more confident in who you are:

Practice Positive Self-Talk:

First of all, you may want to change the way you talk to yourself. If you’re used to being tough on yourself and beating yourself up in the way you think and speak about yourself, it’s going to really lower your confidence. When you’re more positive, it can help you to feel a lot more confident and happier in yourself.

Prioritize Self-Care:

It can also help to look after yourself a little better. It’s easy to think that self-care is just pampering and caring too much about your appearance, but it’s far from that. It can be relaxing, helping your mental health, and boosting your mood as well as your confidence. You may find that starting a self-care routine drastically changes how you feel.

Focus on Feeling Good:

You should also be proactive about feeling good in yourself. Buying new bras, taking yourself for a walk, or even having a little solo date night could help you to feel recharged and boost your mood. Treat yourself to something nice, grab a coffee from your favorite cafe, or simply take a pause when you feel like you could use a pick me up. When you find what works to boost your mood, you can keep turning back to it as often as you need.

Dress for Confidence:

You can also look to what you wear for a lot more confidence. You may find that if you’re wearing things that don’t make you feel good, getting excited about what you wear can change everything. Take yourself out shopping or order some options online. Once you find some pieces you love, you may feel a lot more confident in your skin. When you dress with clothes that fit well and enhance your best features, you are going to love what you see when you look in the mirror.

Embrace yourself, your quirks, and what makes you you. Doing so will always make you feel so much happier and confident in who you are!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May20

Bikini Body

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Bikini Body

Hello!! Summer is about to bring the Hot Hot Heat (Who remembers that band?! LOVED them!) and with that comes a total wardrobe change. The layers are shed, long sleeve tops are traded for Ts and tanks, and jeans shorten into… shorts lol. For some, this is as natural as the seasons changing. For others, it can be a nerve wracking exercise in dressing for the weather and feeling comfortable about it. In this situation, I fluctuate from oozing a godlike charisma to wanting to hole up in a closet to wallow in poor self esteem and never come out.

If you are a long term reader of lifewithlilred, you will know that I detest dressing for summer. Part of it is simply aesthetics. I just love fall clothing – cozy cardis, gorgeous jackets, and all the accessories like scarves, gloves, and beanies. I wear these layers for looks, of course, but they provide an extra layer of protection as well. I don’t mind showing skin but it’s never high up on my agenda when I’m styling an OOTD. So when the transition happens to wearing shorts, crop tops, and tanks out of sheer necessity for the weather, that layered security blanket is tossed to the side and worry sets in. “Do my breasts look too big?” “How many rude comments on my tattoos am I going to get today?” “Is someone going to pull the old ‘grab my arm’ to get a closer look at said tattoos?” (The latter happens more than you would think!)

Like I said, to some people dressing for summer is whatever. For others, it is anything but. And, whatever that reason might be for a lack of self confidence in dress, rest assured that it will weigh heavily on the person who carries that burden. As everyone begins to don warm weather clothing, I always like to give a friendly reminder: What people wear is none of your business. Unwarranted comments on body type or clothing can do more damage than you could ever imagine and it stings even harder when it’s from a complete stranger. So ask yourself a question: Do I really want to ruin someone’s day with a comment? And, do I really want someone to ruminate on that comment for forever? Unless you plan on singing someone’s praises, the best rule of thumb is to say nothing and if you don’t like what you see, look away.

I will always be a recovering bulimic and I can give you exact moments in time when comments on my body were made that destroyed me. It could have happened years ago but in my head, it happened just yesterday. Every single person that you encounter is struggling in some way shape or form. So again, before you make a comment on body type or dress, ask yourself a question: Do I really want to make what that person is going through even worse? Every body is beautiful and should be celebrated. And, as the old saying goes: If you don’t have anything nice to say – don’t say it!

One of my favorite quotes via social media is that “Every body is a bikini body” and wiser words have never been spoken or typed. This summer, let’s dress for us and feel amazing about it because when you feel like the star you are – no one can tell you NOTHING!!

What is your favorite season to dress for? What is your least favorite season to dress for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep12

Make Your 19 Year Old Self Proud

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Make Your 19 Year Old Self Proud

Hello!! Earlier this week I had the really cool opportunity to facilitate and create a presentation for my boss, Tim, at Kent State University. It was an amazing project to sink my teeth into and I loved joining Tim on campus for his talk. We had the best time! After the presentation, we had a Q&A session followed by a meet and greet. As the students waited in line for me to take their pictures, a gaggle of freshman and sophomore girls were patiently waiting on deck. They were the absolute cutest.

Once they got closer to me, they approached and sung the praises of my outfit (Peep that later!) and asked questions about how I got started with my job. They told me they were eighteen and nineteen and were simply shook when I told them I was thirty! I have got to admit, talking to these teenagers made me feel insanely old lol but I was delighted by the encounter. I am very rarely around people that age and the fact that they thought I was some semblance of cool made me feel… Well, cool.

As I drove home, I thought about my nineteen year old self. I was insanely depressed, engaged in self harm and an eating disorder, and everything sucked. I was working a crappy job in the mall, had no goals, and no sense of self worth whatsoever. Then, I flash forwarded to my life as a thirty year old. I have the best jobs, best friends, best family, and am so happily married. If you would have told me that as a nineteen year old, I wouldn’t have even been able to fathom it.

It took me a long time of struggling with my mental health to get myself to a good place and it was far from easy. The girls I met were none the wiser to any of this and were able to see me as a confident and stylish woman. After our brief meeting, I came to the conclusion that my nineteen year old self would have looked up to who I am now too. This was a very fulfilling feeling because I associate that period in my life with a lot of shame. I was now able to give my young self credit as a kid who was trying her best and I know for a fact she would be proud of who I am today!

Sometimes the smallest encounters are the most meaningful and this one gave me the opportunity to see how far I have come. I am so grateful for it!

What were you like as a teenager? Who do you look up to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb28

4 Easy Ways To Get More Confident

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4 Easy Ways To Get More Confident

Self-confidence is a powerful asset that can immensely impact your life. It helps you reach your objectives and feel secure in everything you do. If you want to boost your self-confidence, there are countless ways to go about it. These suggestions will help boost your spirits and enable you to realize your aspirations:

See your dentist to fix oral issues:

Having your dentist address oral issues can have a lasting effect on your well-being. It saves time, money, and hassle in the long run and may protect you against severe conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Beyond the apparent teeth cleaning and checkup, your dentist may offer recommendations to improve your smile or suggest a cosmetic treatment that could boost self-esteem and confidence. Visiting a dental center such as Wahroonga Dental can help you to correct common dental issues with cosmetic treatments, including having braces fitted, dental crowns, teeth whitened, and more.

Dress for confidence:

Dressing to impress can boost your confidence and enhance how you feel and interact with others. Dressing in bright colors and styles that flatter your figure can also boost self-confidence. A red skirt or top is especially great for those wanting to radiate power and confidence. If you have a favorite dress or suit that makes you feel amazing, wear it often. Doing so will help you remember why you chose it and how it made you think, which in turn can boost your confidence levels. To feel confident in your clothing, select pieces you enjoy wearing in colors and styles that also fit well. The better fitting your clothing is, the better you will feel.

Fake it till you make it:

Just because you don’t particularly feel confident doesn’t mean that others should be aware of that. The fake it till you make it mindset can help you to push through times of doubt and uncertainty when you need to be confident. It can be as simple as making eye contact with others to give off an air of confidence or standing up tall and maintaining your posture throughout a presentation. Eventually, you will find that the more you fake being confident, the less you will need to do so.

Emulate others who are confident:

One of the best ways to increase your self-assurance is by studying those who possess it. Pay attention to how confident individuals interact with one another, their work habits, and how they dress for success. This type of role modeling can give you invaluable insights into what it takes to succeed in any area of life.

Another excellent idea is to step outside your comfort zone and try something different. For instance, volunteer for a community service project or enroll in a training course that could benefit your career! It’s a great way to build confidence and you might even land your dream job. Plus, this exercise will make you think on your feet and feel like an experienced leader quickly.

Over 85% of Americans report having low self-confidence, and improving this even a little bit can greatly benefit your overall mental health. These tips can go a long way to getting you started on boosting your confidence!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb20

Build Your Self Confidence With These Tips

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Build Your Self Confidence With These Tips

It is absolutely essential for us to take the time to build our self confidence as it can profoundly shape how we experience our lives. Self confidence is a huge factor in how people perceive themselves, their environment, and how they interact with others. When people have low self confidence or lack of it, they tend to be easily affected by external factors like criticism or failure. On the other hand, when someone has high self-esteem and confidence, they can handle life’s issues without giving into fear or stress. This article will explain why improving your self confidence is of cardinal importance and some practical steps you can take towards building more confidence in yourself:

The Benefits & Power Of Self Confidence:

When you have healthy and positive self-esteem, it allows you to believe in yourself and confront any challenges or obstacles that come your way. You are more likely to take risks and make bold decisions when you feel confident about yourself. Plus, having high levels of confidence enables you to live a happier, more fulfilled life since the assurance that comes with it helps you appreciate who you are and embrace your unique qualities. It has been proven that people with greater self confidence tend to be healthier physically as they’re better able to handle stressful events without breaking down from anxiety or depression.

Building Your Self Confidence:

Now that you know the power of self confidence and why you should strive to have it, let’s talk about practical steps to build your own:

Focus on positive affirmations: Start by consistently telling yourself that you are capable and worthy of success. Positive affirmations like “I am strong and powerful” or “I am a valuable person” will help increase your self-esteem and provide an emotional boost when needed.

Identify areas for growth: Take the time to analyze where you currently stand in terms of self confidence. If certain aspects of yourself could use some improvement, such as communication skills or public speaking ability, make a plan for how you will work on them.

Set achievable goals: Setting realistic and achievable goals is an essential part of building any level of self confidence. When you can see that your hard work is paying off, it will motivate you to keep going and also build a sense of pride in yourself. Choose tasks that you know are within your reach and build from there.

Practice self care: Taking the time to do something nice for yourself can help increase your self-esteem. Whether it’s taking a few minutes out of your day for meditation, treating yourself to a massage, or even allowing yourself some time away from technology, these small acts help remind us that we are deserving of love and care.

When you find acts of self care that really work for you, embrace it! Self care is a wonderful way to reward yourself and provides something to look forward to. If you’re like me, your favorite form of self care comes from being pampered. Scheduling regular appointments for hair, nails, or skin care treatments at a quality med spa can become that perfect self-care ritual. Whether you’re looking for services at Grand Blanc Med Spa or exploring options in your own area, prioritize locations with excellent reviews for their staff and expertise to ensure you get the rejuvenating experience you deserve.

Build relationships: Lastly, it’s important to surround yourself with positive people who will help motivate and encourage you. Having strong relationships with family and friends is essential for self confidence as it gives us a support system that can remind us of our greatness when we are feeling down.

Facing Your Insecurities:

Sometimes we have insecurities that can be difficult to face. Eczema is one such issue, and it can cause feelings of low self-esteem or embarrassment in those who suffer from it. Luckily, there are treatments available to help you manage eczema and improve your overall skin health. Creams and ointments containing corticosteroids are often used as eczema treatments as they can reduce inflammation and help soothe the skin. In addition, moisturizing on a regular basis is also very important in preventing eczema flare ups, as well as avoiding irritants like certain fabrics or chemicals that could worsen symptoms.

Participate in activities that make you feel good:

This step is all about learning to do something for yourself and having fun! Choose activities that make you feel happy, such as reading a book, listening to your favorite music, or taking a yoga class. Doing things that bring joy into your life can have an incredibly positive impact on your self confidence.

Having self confidence can give you the power to keep pushing forward when faced with any hurdles or obstacles. With dedication and commitment, anyone can learn how to build their self-esteem and appreciate themselves for who they are. Remember that it’s okay to take time for yourself and practice some self care; after all, taking care of yourself should always come first!

Featured Image By: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Jan27

Take The Compliment

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Take The Compliment

Hello! One thing that I have always struggled with is receiving compliments and I’m sure that I am not the only one who has similar sentiments. When I was at my lowest, I genuinely couldn’t understand why anyone would want to compliment me and all it did was make me paranoid and even more miserable. It’s hard accepting compliments when you don’t feel worthy of getting them in the first place! It’s also so easy to deflect a compliment and just turn it around to the other person, instead. IE: “You look great”. “No, you look great”.

For several years, I was never able to simply say “thank you” for a compliment and it took a lot of mental health work on my part to get to that point. After coming to terms with my own problems and gaining some self esteem, I realized that I have improved tenfold in my compliment accepting abilities. It actually didn’t really click until I saw these two pictures taken at Playhouse Square this past weekend:

image_50456321(4)image_50755329(4)

^^^ When snapping some pics before seeing Beetlejuice, someone told me they liked my outfit mid-pose and the second picture is of me being ecstatic about it!

As I was scrolling through photos of my night on the town, these two pictures really stuck out to me. As I sat and mused, I wondered what the second picture would have looked like if I was back to my depression days. Chances are, I wouldn’t have had a huge smile – rather, a look of confusion as if someone was trying to play a joke. Recognizing that and being able to see it so plainly in front of me made me feel proud of my own personal growths.

lifewithlilred played a big role in helping me muster up some confidence about myself in general and my appearance. Through OOTDs, I was able to develop my sense of style and writing about my issues in early posts assisted in sorting out my emotions and learning from them. And, while saying “thank you” for a compliment online isn’t the same as in real life, it was a great first start. Having people comment specifically on my page was a turning point and I was able to see the compliments for what they really were – something nice.

As I began testing my new skills in public, it began getting easier and easier to say “thank you” to the point where I didn’t even have to think about it anymore. I also loved how much more genuine it felt to give a person an actual compliment back instead of just replying with an Uno Reverse card lol.  It wasn’t until seeing the pictures above that I put some thought into it and saw what a major improvement has been made. 🙂

If you can relate to this post, my best advice is to Take The Compliment when you receive one. It might be really hard at first but just saying “thank you” is a small step in making some big changes!

What is something that you struggle with? Is it hard for you to accept compliments? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan4

Feel More Confident Without Changing Your Look

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Feel More Confident Without Changing Your Look

With the start of the new year, chances are high that you have chosen to make resolutions about changing yourself or trying to be more confident. The thing is, there are plenty of ways that you can feel more confident in yourself and about who you are without having to change your look. Your weight doesn’t need to change, your hair doesn’t need to change, and you don’t need to change who you are as a person to be confident. Instead, you have to believe who you are as a person.

There are plenty of ways that you can be more confident without completely overhauling your look, and you can consider anything from a spritz of Michel Germain perfume to a course on public speaking to help you. As long as you can understand that your confidence isn’t based on your looks, you will go a lot further in life than you think. Here are some of the ways that you can be more confident without having to do an extreme makeover for it:

Stand tall:

If you sit in a coffee shop and look out the window you could point out everybody who has little confidence in themselves. They hunch and walk with their shoulders low and their heads down. If you want to feel confident, you need to stand up straight and tall, with your shoulders and head back. Think about commanding a room even when you’re just walking down the street. A powerful presence starts with good posture!

Change your environment:

What is it around you that is hindering your confidence? What’s making you feel less than you should? Did you know that people who spend all of their time in offices find that spending just a couple of minutes outside puts them in a better mood? You need to look at what it is that is pushing you down and go to the place that makes you feel most creative, happy, and relaxed. See, you don’t have to change who you are, you just need to change where you are.

Try something new:

It can be hard as an adult to try new skills or hobbies because of the fear of failure. We all want to be amazing at what we try right off the bat! However, persevering through something difficult and finally achieving success is going to do wonders for your confidence. You worked hard and you reached a goal, and that’s enough for a huge confidence boost.

Adopt a positive mental attitude:

A great way to be more confident without changing who you are is to be positive with everything that you do. Your thoughts will influence your behavior and your decision making, so reframing your thinking can drastically change everything. If you start each morning thinking that today is going to be a bad day, then it probably will be. Wake up every morning ready to take on the day and see what a difference it makes!

All of these ideas are natural confidence boosters – no pricey trip to the salon or store required!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan6

Maintain Your Self Confidence With These Tips

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Maintain Your Self Confidence With These Tips

Your self confidence is something that can always be improved on. Even the most confident people still have days where they falter! What confidence requires is taking a direct effort towards affirming yourself, towards expressing who you are, and in finding inspiration where you deem it most necessary. In this new year, it could be a wonderful time to work on building that confidence up and maintaining it. Here are some tips to help with that:

Confidence Helps Us Take Risks:

Confidence helps us take risks and be okay with the potential for failure. It can help us head out and make us want to try new things, or a new challenge. Taking risks can help us build confidence. Think of how an agoraphobic, under careful therapeutic maintenance, will help manage their condition by taking small steps outside, steps that can often be seen as thoroughly worrying and risky in their mental space at the time. Once they come back, that exposure makes them realize that actually, their acceptance of the perceived risk has helped them grow, just a little, and a crack in their struggle is found. Could this principle apply to parts of your life?

Confidence Helps Us Care For Ourselves:

Confidence allows us to understand that taking care of number one isn’t so bad. It’s not narcissistic to do this, because the more you care for yourself, the more you can care for others. This means going out and visiting a local dentist to have that problem seen to, making your exercise regimen more solidified, or learning when you need to take a day off to help recuperate your mental health. Confidence can help inspire us to look after ourselves as necessary.

When You Realize Your Worth, Confidence Builds:

A good way to build confidence is to watch yourself. Most of us are our biggest critics, because we see everything behind the scenes, including when we lose our temper, when we’re mean, or too proud. Yet often, we forget to look at when we’re kind or supportive of another, when we want to think about our hopes and dreams, when we sacrifice ourselves to care for someone we love. When you watch yourself in this way, you realize that you’re not that bad at all. Perhaps you have something worth keeping. Maybe, if you were just a bit more sure of yourself, you’d be able to spread that good even further. If more people realized that, the world would be a better place. It’s okay to start with you.

With this advice, we hope that your confidence continues to bloom and maintains its blossoms year round in 2022.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov5

Easy Ways To Start Elevating Your Confidence

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Easy Ways To Start Elevating Your Confidence

If you haven’t been feeling like yourself recently, you aren’t alone. In fact, 85% of adults deal with low-self esteem or confidence in their daily lives. While these figures are high, they are hardly surprising due to the fact that there are so many different factors that can inhibit our confidence. This could include societal pressures, the expectations of our peers or loved ones, or even a setback at work.

While so much of our confidence is impacted by external forces, it’s important to remember that true confidence comes from within. Furthermore, when you start to feel good about yourself, confidence will come naturally as you will no longer care about what other people may think. That being said, confidence is a lifelong journey – it’s not something that you can obtain overnight.

So, if you’ve decided that it’s time to get your confidence back, here are some top tips to get you started:

Start taking better care of yourself:

Our confidence levels are often greatly impacted by how we look (or rather, the way we feel about how we look). While it’s important to remember that beauty comes in many different shapes and sizes, taking better care of yourself can help you look and feel better in your daily life. For example, putting together a beauty routine can help to clear your skin. Additionally, making the most of dental services available to you can help you learn to love your smile once again, meaning that it will be impossible to keep a grin off of your face.

Start working out:

Exercising more frequently is a great way to boost your body confidence. However, it’s important that you don’t work out with the intention to lose weight but rather to change your relationship with your body for the better. To achieve this goal, you should not base your success on the scale or the size of clothing you are wearing but on your capabilities. If you were to start running every day, set yourself the goal of running a bit further each day and note how your body changes as you get stronger, faster, and more capable. Setting yourself small fitness goals will also help boost your confidence as they’ll show you that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

Take a break from social media:

In a world where we spend so much time on our phones, it’s no wonder that social media can significantly impact our confidence. Social media constantly encourages us to compare ourselves to others, whether that’s due to the fact that every picture that your friends post looks perfect or they get a lot more likes on their latest upload than we do. If you want to challenge how you perceive yourself, it’s time to give yourself a break from the socials. Log out, deactivate, or even delete the apps from your phone, if only temporarily. When you return, you should ensure that you unfollow (or mute) any accounts that do not make you feel good about yourself.

As mentioned above, confidence is a lifelong journey and the tips above can help you get started on the right foot!

Featured Image By: Jordan Donaldson | @jordi.d on Unsplash

Oct31

5 Reasons Why Being A Sports Fan Is Great For You

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5 Reasons Why Being A Sports Fan Is Great For You

Many of us have a love of sports and there is something so exciting about following your favorite team as they make their way to the championship. Whether it’s cheering on the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL or Liverpool in the premier league, watching your team achieve greatness is the best thing. In fact, there are many benefits to being a sports fan, and some studies show that being one has positive psychological, emotional, and social benefits like the following:

Sense of Community:

The sense of community is a key component to what makes sports so popular. It’s a way for people who might not have much in common or from different parts of the world to connect. In our society, sports have become a way for different people from various cultures and backgrounds to come together and share in the excitement. The power of cheering and support from other fans in the stadium is amazing. It’s great being part of a big community and sharing sports news through sites similar to https://sportnews.in/.

This sports fan community really is there when you think about it on a smaller scale too. How many times have you worn your favorite Steelers or Cronulla Sharks merchandise and then got engaged in conversation from a stranger? Whether it’s playful banter about whose team is better or which player is looking good this year, your sports merch is inviting a chat with anyone who loves the game. You might make a new friend from something as simple as wearing a team jersey!

Help To Deal With Stress:

Sports have always been a great way to relieve stress. Watching sports helps to relax, distracts you from your problems, and gives you something to talk about with other people. We all know that there is nothing better than watching your favorite team win. Watching your favorite player score a goal or make an awesome play is so inspirational. It’s easy to be transported when watching a big game and having something to focus on and cheer for is a perfect way to shake away stress.

Happiness:

When it comes to the team’s fans, they have their own set of reasons to cheer on the team. Some may have been born into sports fandom like Stephen Troese Jr, some may be cheering for their favorite player, or they could just be cheering for the joy of being in a good mood. One study found that 50% of participants reported feeling more energetic when it comes to baseball games and 41% felt more relaxed after watching the game with happy spectators. Those numbers speak for themselves!

Increased Self Esteem:

Overall, sports fans not only get to reap the social benefits but also the psychological benefits as well. We often feel down on ourselves and forget about our accomplishments. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of life. But cheering for your favorite team has been found to boost self esteem and make you feel better about yourself.

Make Some Money:

Sports betting has become an increasingly popular hobby and can be quite lucrative. Whether it’s a small wager among friends or using an app or website to bet, it’s important to be smart about it. Do your research of the team and all of its players, look into the buzz on Champions League Predictions or the next big game coming up, and only make a bet with an amount you are comfortable with losing. While this is not for everyone, it can be a bit of fun and might provide some extra pocket change.

When a sports fan cheers for a team, they are not only boosting their own self esteem but also supporting their hometown or country’s success. It’s a common trend for people to be more connected with the community when they are enjoying a game all together.

Featured Image By: Jimmy Conover on Unsplash